Aid talks 'fail to deliver' for the world’s poor
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Accra, September 4, 2008.
ActionAid said today that demands by developing countries and campaigners for immediate improvements to make aid work better for the poor were blocked by the US, Japan and the World Bank. Hopes had been high that key reforms would be agreed to make aid more efficient, transparent and effective, but these were scuppered by back room deals dominated by donor countries. The talks were convened by the OECD; a grouping of the world’s wealthiest nations. ActionAid spokesperson, Wole Olaleye said “It is disgraceful that powerful countries have denied the poor a chance to benefit from better aid. Future aid negotiations cannot be run by a rich country club. They must be moved to a forum where northern and southern countries can negotiate on equal terms, such as the United Nations, with meaningful participation by civil society.” The European Union has supported developing country positions and hinted that it might consider making additional commitments to improve aid. “Europe provides two thirds of the world’s aid,” Olaleye added. “It’s time for them to set the bar much higher and agree with developing countries the concrete steps needed to make European aid more accountable and effective.” ENDS For more information contact Abdullai Kamara in Accra +233 (0) 24 282 0475 (mobile) or Laura Sullivan in Brussels +32 485 781255 (mobile.) Notes for editors Ministers from more than 100 donor and developing countries meeting in Accra agreed upon an ‘Accra Agenda for Action’ to improve the quality of aid. However, the Agenda contains few concrete commitments or deadlines for reforms. Governments’ own surveys have found that three years since making promises to reform aid in Paris donors have made little or no progress in improving the quality of their aid. Too much aid remains driven by donors’ priorities and interests, which can undermine democratic accountability in countries receiving aid, and sideline the needs of the poor. Campaigners’ demands for an end to damaging practices such as using aid to buy donor goods and services, removing harmful conditions attached to aid, and a step change in the transparency and accountability of aid were ignored.
ActionAid said today that demands by developing countries and campaigners for immediate improvements to make aid work better for the poor were blocked by the US, Japan and the World Bank. Hopes had been high that key reforms would be agreed to make aid more efficient, transparent and effective, but these were scuppered by back room deals dominated by donor countries. The talks were convened by the OECD; a grouping of the world’s wealthiest nations. ActionAid spokesperson, Wole Olaleye said “It is disgraceful that powerful countries have denied the poor a chance to benefit from better aid. Future aid negotiations cannot be run by a rich country club. They must be moved to a forum where northern and southern countries can negotiate on equal terms, such as the United Nations, with meaningful participation by civil society.” The European Union has supported developing country positions and hinted that it might consider making additional commitments to improve aid. “Europe provides two thirds of the world’s aid,” Olaleye added. “It’s time for them to set the bar much higher and agree with developing countries the concrete steps needed to make European aid more accountable and effective.” ENDS For more information contact Abdullai Kamara in Accra +233 (0) 24 282 0475 (mobile) or Laura Sullivan in Brussels +32 485 781255 (mobile.) Notes for editors Ministers from more than 100 donor and developing countries meeting in Accra agreed upon an ‘Accra Agenda for Action’ to improve the quality of aid. However, the Agenda contains few concrete commitments or deadlines for reforms. Governments’ own surveys have found that three years since making promises to reform aid in Paris donors have made little or no progress in improving the quality of their aid. Too much aid remains driven by donors’ priorities and interests, which can undermine democratic accountability in countries receiving aid, and sideline the needs of the poor. Campaigners’ demands for an end to damaging practices such as using aid to buy donor goods and services, removing harmful conditions attached to aid, and a step change in the transparency and accountability of aid were ignored. |
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